Sporting CP announced on Saturday the signing of Australian winger Nestory Irankunda from English Championship club Watford, with the undisclosed transfer fee reported to be approximately $26 million and potentially rising to $29.5 million with add-ons.
Irankunda joins Sporting CP from Watford in deal reported at $26 million
Sporting CP announced on Saturday the signing of Australian winger Nestory Irankunda from English Championship club Watford, with the undisclosed transfer fee reported to be approximately $26 million and potentially rising to $29.5 million with add-ons.
Sporting CP, based in Lisbon and 21-time Portuguese champions, signed Irankunda on a five-year deal through to 2031. The club has inserted a $130 million release clause into the contract, according to the announcement.
Bayern Munich, which sold Irankunda to Watford, holds a sell-on clause and is expected to receive nearly $10 million from the transfer. Those negotiations reportedly complicated the sale.
Irankunda told Sporting CP's supporters he was motivated in part by the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League, which the club secured by finishing second in Portugal's Primeira Liga behind Porto last season. Sporting CP opened their current Primeira Liga campaign with a 3-2 win over Vitoria on Friday.
The transfer follows teenager Lucas Herrington's move from MLS side Colorado Rapids to Premier League club Hull City, reported to be worth $33 million, described in the source as making Herrington the most expensive Australian footballer. Both moves came in the same week. Australian players have attracted significant transfer activity since the Socceroos reached the last 16 at the FIFA World Cup, with a number of high-profile moves including Jackson Irvine from St Pauli to Cerezo Osaka and Ajdin Hrustic from Heracles Almelo to Al Nasr.
Sporting CP welcomed Irankunda with a video set to Michael Jackson's 'Bad,' featuring the player stepping out of a sports car and performing his Jackson-themed goal celebration before the club's green-and-white colours were superimposed. The club previously developed Cristiano Ronaldo early in his career.
- The source does not state the exact fee confirmed by either club, only a reported figure.
- The source does not specify the terms or percentage of Bayern Munich's sell-on clause.
- The source does not state Watford's official comment or response to the transfer.
- The source does not establish which World Cup is referenced or the year it took place.
- The source does not state the length or terms of Irankunda's previous contract at Watford.
- The source does not identify which clubs in Germany Irankunda was with prior to Watford.
Read the original at ABC News Australia